Since taking office in January, President Obama has been faced with some major issues: the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, the national and global economy, and national health care. Each item has its own supporters and its own opponents. Regardless of what our individual political views are, we can probably agree on these points of commonality: each issue listed affects human lives; each issue is of major importance; and each issue costs dollars.

For the most part, we have entrusted the decisions that must be made to our elected leaders and representatives. To them we make known our personal preferences and priorities in the hope of influencing the legislation that will be approved regarding each issue.

We have a more direct impact upon decisions that are made in our closer proximity. One such place is in the church and in the association. All of us are facing major issues and decisions just like our nation. Our issues focus on the size of the budget; the amount of staff salaries

and benefits; the value of each church program or ministry; the cost of maintaining the property; and the need for global and local missions.

You and I will be making decisions over the next few months about money that will directly impact the credibility and future of the church. While I could never have enough influence to tell the churches of Denton Baptist Association what to do financially, I am willing to make some suggestions about how all of us need to work through the tough choices we must all make:

• 
  A church budget needs to be prepared with equal amounts of financial knowledge and thoughtful prayer.
• Faith budgeting is neither frivolous spending nor penny pinching hoarding.
• A church budget should reflect the mission of Christ which hopefully is also the mission of the church.
• A church budget is a plan for using God’s money in ministry.
  

• As an individual, I give my tithe through my church not to meet a budget but as an act of obedience to God and a means to share Him with the world.
• Global or local is never a question for a church in terms of its mission giving – the answer is always both.

Discussions about money in a church tend to result in disagreements and hurt feelings. Ultimately, I don’t believe the discussion related to budgets is about money; I believe it is about ministry and obedience. The answer for tough choices in today’s economy is found in our answer to two questions:

• What does God want us to do?
• Will we do it?
  

Both questions must be answered by you – the church!